Chapter 2
679 Words
Vicky was the girl Aaron had carried a torch for since they were young.
Her parents' work had taken the family abroad back in college.
Then, a year ago, she'd suddenly come back, taken a job at our company, and ended up on the finance team, the same desk as me.
She said she hadn't found a place to live yet.
So Aaron, with one grand sweep of his hand, set her up with a brand-new apartment near ours, fully furnished and move-in ready.
She said she had no family or friends in the country.
So Aaron made a point of celebrating every holiday at her side.
She said she wasn't used to the nine-to-nine grind back home.
So Aaron sweet-talked me into staying late and clearing the work that was supposed to be hers.
Eyes brimming, she'd cling to Aaron's arm. "Aaron, I don't know a soul here. You're all I've got."
It broke his heart every time.
The way he saw it, his precious first love had no one but him.
If he didn't look out for Vicky, who would?
The first time I ever heard of her was when Aaron came down to the finance office to bring her lunch.
A coworker assumed he came for me and teased me to hurry out to him.
But when I got to the door, I saw the new girl in our department swaying his arm and gushing, "Aaron, thank you for bringing me lunch and everything."
He explained that Vicky had just moved back on her own and didn't know her way around yet, so she needed looking after.
And he promised me there wouldn't be a next time.
The second time, she sent the wrong data by mistake, and all of my reports had to be scrapped and redone from scratch.
I told her to go to the supervisor herself and own up to what had happened. Instead, Aaron cooked a huge spread and begged me not to make a thing of it.
"Rena, Vicky's new. She's still getting the hang of how we do things here. She didn't mean any harm. And if she got in trouble over this, you'd feel awful about it too, wouldn't you?
"She's already apologized, so just let it go this time. I know you're the one who has to deal with the mess, and in return, I'll take you out this weekend, yeah?"
The "apology" he was talking about amounted to a few sticker emojis Vicky sent me on the messaging app. Not even a proper sorry among them.
It didn't sit right with me. But for Aaron's sake, I let it go anyway.
The third time, Aaron deleted every scrap of data I'd prepared for the promotion.
All because I was the one standing between her and the job.
"Rena, open up. Drink your milk and get a good night's sleep."
I took the warm milk he brought over and asked him, "What's brought this on all of a sudden — milk?"
Aaron's eyes darted away from mine. "Don't be mad anymore," he mumbled. "Call it me making it up to you. Get some good sleep, and tomorrow night, I'll cook for you myself.
"Once I land the R&D manager job next week, anything you want is yours."
I wiped the tears off my face and let out a thin little laugh. "Sure."
I carried Aaron's glass of milk away, and the moment he wasn't looking, I poured it into the soil of the houseplant in my room.
What a joke.
Aaron thought he'd been so subtle. As if I wouldn't notice four sleeping pills missing from the nightstand drawer.
Work had been wearing me down lately, and the sleepless nights had finally sent me to a doctor for those pills.
One a day was the dose. He'd been generous, my Aaron — four in one go.
Seeing the milk gone from my glass, he stroked my head, thoroughly pleased with himself.
There was a time I'd loved that little gesture. Now, everything about him just turned my stomach.
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